There’s only two days left in the World Athletics Championships, and we are set up for an exciting finish at Oregon22.
But the last Friday of the competition included some fireworks after three days of only afternoon sessions.
In the men’s 400 meters, the United States’ Michael Normal won a gold medal with a time of 44.29 seconds. In the women’s 400-meter hurdles, Sydney McLaughlin set a new world record, which she previously held, as she took the gold medal.
Oregon alumni Kemba Nelson (Jamaica) and Jenna Prandini (United States) both helped their respective women’s 4×100-meter relay teams advance to the finals.
In the women’s 800 meters, former Oregon star Raevyn Rogers advanced to Sunday’s finals with a third place finish in her semifinals heat.
Kara Winger a former track star at Vancouver’s Skyview High School, finished with a silver medal in the women’s javelin.
In the men’s 4×100-meter relays, the United States set a world-leading qualifying time of 37.87 seconds. Noah Lyles, who broke the American record for the 200 meters on Thursday, is a member of the team.
After winning Peru’s first-ever world-level gold medal a week ago, Kimberly García León won her second race walk of Oregon22, taking gold in the 35-kilometer race.
Shaunae Miller-Uibo got the first medal for the Bahamas with a gold medal finish in the women’s 400 meters.
LOOKING AHEAD
Some things to watch Saturday at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene:
Felix returns: Allyson Felix isn’t done after all. The most decorated U.S. sprinter of all time returns to Eugene to run in the women’s 4×400 relay heats, which start at 5:10 p.m. (TV on CNBC)
Ducks jumper right at home: Oregon Ducks jumper Emmanuel Ihemeje, who competes for Italy, will look for a home-field advantage in the men’s triple jump final. Ihemeje had the fourth-best leap in qualifying. The final gets underway at 6 p.m. (TV on NBC).
Cranny, Schweizer look to contend in 5,000: Bowerman Track Club’s Elise Cranny and Karissa Schweizer will look to hang with the favorites in the women’s 5,000-meter final. Those favorites includes Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey, who already has picked up the 1,500 gold at these world championships, and Sifan Hassan, the reigning Olympic champion at both 5,000 and 10,000 meters. The 5,000 final begins at 6:25 p.m. (TV on NBC)
U.S. goes for gold in 4×100 relays: The American men and women turned in the fastest times of the qualifying heats in the 4×100 relays Friday, and the teams look primed for gold when they return to the track Saturday night. The women’s relay final is set for 7:30 p.m., followed by the men’s final at 7:50 p.m. (TV on NBC).
